Live electrical wires trap crash victim

Tuesday

Mar 27, 2012 at 12:01 AMMar 27, 2012 at 11:00 PM

An injured man was trapped in his wrecked pickup truck and had to wait two hours for help because live electrical wires fell across his vehicle, preventing rescuers from reaching him until power was cut.

rayk@monroenews.com

An injured man was trapped in his wrecked pickup truck and had to wait two hours for help because live electrical wires fell across his vehicle, preventing rescuers from reaching him until power was cut.

The accident happened about 9:45 a.m. on N. Dixie Hwy. next to Carter Lumber. The driver of the 1996 Ford F-150, a 62-year-old Newport man, became trapped when his vehicle, which was headed south, left the road and slammed into a utility pole.

The pole snapped but did not fall to the ground. It was suspended by electrical wires that did not break. However, the lines draped across the vehicle, which kept emergency crews from reaching the victim.

"We couldn't get to him," said Cpl. David Foley, one of the officers at the scene. "We couldn't get him out until the electricity was turned off."

The victim was seriously injured but remained conscious throughout most of the ordeal. He did speak to firefighters and paramedics, who were close by but could not treat the victim.

"That is not a good situation at all," said Joe Mominee, deputy director of public safety.

Police closed traffic between Noble and Detroit Aves. A medical helicopter landed in a nearby field and waited.

DTE crews arrived at the scene and turned off power to the area. Firefighters then used the Jaws of Life to extricate the victim, who was then flown to Toledo Hospital for treatment. As of Tuesday night, the man was in serious but stable condition, police reported. His name was not available.

Police said the driver was heading south and approaching the curve when he lost control of the pickup and struck the pole. Alcohol does not appear to be a factor in the accident, police said.

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